Read Online Until Forever (Women of Prayer) by Darlene Shortridge - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Darlene Shortridge
Tags: Religious Fiction
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think it is? Olivia, I think we had better unload the car and get cleaned up for supper. It looks as though we are having Aunt Merry’s famous pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy for supper. Mmm…homemade biscuits too? Now this is heaven!” Jessi walked over and gave her aunt another hug. “Thank you. You always make me feel like I’m at home when I’m with you.”
Jessi followed Olivia out the door to the car, and they started carrying suitcases into the spare bedrooms. Aunt Merry had a big two-story house that she had lived in since forever, at least it seemed that way to Jessi. There were four big bedrooms on the top floor, with a shared bathroom, and then another bedroom on the first floor, although Aunt Merry refused to move her things to the first-floor bedroom. She insisted the stairs did her no harm each day, and until she couldn’t possibly climb them, she wasn’t moving. Besides, she liked to eat as much as she liked to cook, and the exercise did her good.
Both Jessi and Olivia were set up for their visit on the second floor. Olivia’s room would be in Jessi’s old room, which was still done in her childhood choice of pink satin and ruffles, canopy still intact. And Jessi was in the guest room, which Aunt Merry had recently redecorated in a Victorian theme to please Jessi.
Jessi walked to the window and looked out at Aunt Merry’s garden. There were flowers everywhere and a small pond with a waterfall. Even her little playhouse from childhood had been redone in pretty pinks and greens for Olivia to enjoy. There were new window boxes on the windows with real flowers in them. She remembered having tea parties with her dolls and stuffed animals in that playhouse. Aunt Merry always made little cookies for her to serve to her “guests,” as she liked to call them. Saturday afternoons were perfect for her tea parties, as Aunt Merry could move dinner back a little to give Jessi time to grow hungry again.
Olivia would never want to leave. This part of her childhood reminded her of a time when she was still good and God still loved her. She hadn’t been so wretched back then, so unlovable. This world would be Olivia’s now, a small part of her childhood that she could share with her daughter. It was looking to be a wonderful, magical summer.
As she began putting her things away, she noticed small leather-bound books tied with ribbons in each dresser drawer. She picked up the first one just as Aunt Merry called her down to supper. She assumed the books were her aunt’s journals but was quite positive they were left by mistake. Her aunt must have forgotten to remove them when she cleaned the dresser out for her to use. She would ask Aunt Merry about them at the supper table.
There was barely enough room on the table for all the food. Roast beef with carrots were on the large center platter. A big bowl of mashed potatoes with real butter melting on top and a dish of homemade gravy sat on one of the corners. There were hot biscuits piled high in a basket and bowls of homemade applesauce, freshly pickled beets, and cottage cheese. And anytime mashed potatoes and gravy were on the table you had to have her creamed corn that she put up in the freezer each year. Olivia couldn’t believe her eyes. Jessi had to good-naturedly reprimand her daughter. “Olivia, please close your mouth and sit down at the table.”
Olivia sat down in her designated spot at the table. “Is it Thanksgiving?” she asked, eyes still wide with wonder.
Jessi stifled a laugh while Aunt Merry answered her question. “I suppose it’s a little like Thanksgiving. I’m very thankful that you and your mom are here with me, and I wanted to make a special supper to celebrate your being here. Do you think you can find something to be thankful for?” she asked, turning the question back to the child and into a prayer as well.
Olivia pondered the question for a moment. “Yes, I can. I’m thankful for you and Mommy, the two people I
Jessi followed Olivia out the door to the car, and they started carrying suitcases into the spare bedrooms. Aunt Merry had a big two-story house that she had lived in since forever, at least it seemed that way to Jessi. There were four big bedrooms on the top floor, with a shared bathroom, and then another bedroom on the first floor, although Aunt Merry refused to move her things to the first-floor bedroom. She insisted the stairs did her no harm each day, and until she couldn’t possibly climb them, she wasn’t moving. Besides, she liked to eat as much as she liked to cook, and the exercise did her good.
Both Jessi and Olivia were set up for their visit on the second floor. Olivia’s room would be in Jessi’s old room, which was still done in her childhood choice of pink satin and ruffles, canopy still intact. And Jessi was in the guest room, which Aunt Merry had recently redecorated in a Victorian theme to please Jessi.
Jessi walked to the window and looked out at Aunt Merry’s garden. There were flowers everywhere and a small pond with a waterfall. Even her little playhouse from childhood had been redone in pretty pinks and greens for Olivia to enjoy. There were new window boxes on the windows with real flowers in them. She remembered having tea parties with her dolls and stuffed animals in that playhouse. Aunt Merry always made little cookies for her to serve to her “guests,” as she liked to call them. Saturday afternoons were perfect for her tea parties, as Aunt Merry could move dinner back a little to give Jessi time to grow hungry again.
Olivia would never want to leave. This part of her childhood reminded her of a time when she was still good and God still loved her. She hadn’t been so wretched back then, so unlovable. This world would be Olivia’s now, a small part of her childhood that she could share with her daughter. It was looking to be a wonderful, magical summer.
As she began putting her things away, she noticed small leather-bound books tied with ribbons in each dresser drawer. She picked up the first one just as Aunt Merry called her down to supper. She assumed the books were her aunt’s journals but was quite positive they were left by mistake. Her aunt must have forgotten to remove them when she cleaned the dresser out for her to use. She would ask Aunt Merry about them at the supper table.
There was barely enough room on the table for all the food. Roast beef with carrots were on the large center platter. A big bowl of mashed potatoes with real butter melting on top and a dish of homemade gravy sat on one of the corners. There were hot biscuits piled high in a basket and bowls of homemade applesauce, freshly pickled beets, and cottage cheese. And anytime mashed potatoes and gravy were on the table you had to have her creamed corn that she put up in the freezer each year. Olivia couldn’t believe her eyes. Jessi had to good-naturedly reprimand her daughter. “Olivia, please close your mouth and sit down at the table.”
Olivia sat down in her designated spot at the table. “Is it Thanksgiving?” she asked, eyes still wide with wonder.
Jessi stifled a laugh while Aunt Merry answered her question. “I suppose it’s a little like Thanksgiving. I’m very thankful that you and your mom are here with me, and I wanted to make a special supper to celebrate your being here. Do you think you can find something to be thankful for?” she asked, turning the question back to the child and into a prayer as well.
Olivia pondered the question for a moment. “Yes, I can. I’m thankful for you and Mommy, the two people I
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